Safety indexing device for launcher firing mechanisms

ABSTRACT

The firing mechanism of a multishot rocket launcher comprises a shaft journaled for rotation within the launcher case and for longitudinal displacement between an extended and a telescoped position respective thereto. A firing pin mechanism carried by the shaft for longitudinal displacement therewith successively retracts and releases a plurality of firing pins responsive to rotation of a rotary cam on the shaft by a trigger mechanism. Displacement of the shaft to the telescoped position disconnects the trigger mechanism therefrom and engages the shaft with a safety guide tube thereby indexing the firing pin mechanism so as to be safely uncocked and securing it against actuation after being indexed.

United States Patent [191 Wilson:

[451 Jan. 22, 1974 1 SAFETY INDEXING DEVICE FOR LAUNCHER FIRINGMECHANISMS [75] Inventor: Dennis L. Wilson, Davenport, Iowa [22]; Filed:Dec. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,491

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuatiomimpart of Ser. No.158,792, July 1,

1971, abandoned.

[52], US. Cl. 89/l.812, 89]] L, 89/l.8l3, 89/9 [51] Int. CL. F41f 3/04[58] Field-ofSearch 89/1 R, l L, 9, 1.813, 12, 89/l.812; 42/1 12/1970Babington 42/1 G 2/1972 Reed 89/1.8l3

Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J.Kelly; Herbert Ber]; Albert E. Arnold, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The firing mechanism of a multishot rocket launchercomprises a shaft journaled for rotation within the launcher case andforlongitudinal displacement between an extended and a telescopedposition respective thereto. A firing pin mechanism carried by the shaftfor longitudinal displacement therewith successively retracts andreleases a plurality of firing pins responsive to rotation of a rotarycam on the shaft by a trigger mechanism. Displacement of the shaft tothe telescoped position disconnects the trigger mechanism therefrom andengages the shaft with a safety guide tube thereby indexing the firingpin mechanism so as to be safely uncooked and securing it againstactuation after being indexed.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMENTEDJANZZ m4 SREUZIJFS llll.

meme-m streams saw u or 5 SAFETY INDEXING DEVICE FOR LAUNCHER FIRINGMECHANISMS The above-identified patent application is acontinuation-in-part of applicants copending previously filed patentapplication,Ser. No. 158,792, filed 1 July 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND. OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to firing mechanismsfor firearms and pertains more particularly to firing mechanisms formultishot launchers wherein a plurality of firing pins are successivelyretracted and released by a trigger displaced rotary cam.

A particular multishot rocket launcher is provided with a firingmechanism comprising a pivotal trigger and a cable lanyard which ispulled thereby and is connected to a drum for converting the pivotdisplacement of the trigger to rotary movement thereof. A shaft supportsand drives a cam actuated firing pin mechanism whichretractstandreleases one of ,four firing pins responsive to 90 rotationof the shaft and which is also longitudinally displaceable with theshaft between an extended position and a telescoped position. In thetelescoped position the shaft is secured against rotation respective tothe launcher case and thereby, when the triggeris pulled, the cablelanyard becomes stretched to where pivotal displacement of the triggercannot rotate theshaft 90 required for retraction and release of one ofthe firing pins. Consequently, the launcher fails to fire. Also, thefiring pins are successively retracted and released to fire theassociated rockets, by a rotary cam on the. shaft which rotary cam actsagainst a pin follower on successive ones of the firing pins responsiveto repeated pulls on the trigger. Because of this arrangement, when thetrigger is partially pulled and the shaft is rotated thereby less than90, it is possible for the firing pin; to be hung-up, cocked, on thepeak of the rotary cam without the operator knowing of thedangeroussituation whereby the cocked firing pin can be easily released.to fire the associated rocket if the launcher should be-suddenly jarred.This is a particularly dangerous situation if the launcher is telescopedfor carrying when the cocked firing pin is accidentally released.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ltisia principal object ofthis invention toprovide for such a firing mechanism the improvement whereby the triggermechanism is disconnected from the firing pin mechanism when the driveshaft, with the firing pin mechanism carried thereby, are in theirtelescoped, safeposition so that the trigger may be freely displacedwith no strain being placed upon the lanyard if the trigger. should beinadvertently pulled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for such a firingmechanism the improvement whereby, when the firing pin mechanism isdisconnected from the triggermechanism by location of the shaft in itstelescoped position, the shaft has engagement with a safety guide tubewhich serves to index the rotary cam of thefiring pin mechanism so thatthe peak thereof is positively positioned away from the pin follower onany of the. firing pins, and to secure the rotary cam in the indexedposition.

The. above stated objects are achieved by providing on the shaftoperatively supporting the firing pin mechanism a radially extending keywhich, when the shaft is in the operative extended position, engages oneof a plurality of notches formed in one end of a ratchet sleeve therebyconnecting the trigger to the firing pin mechanism. When the shaft is inthe inoperative telescoped position, the key is disengaged from thenotches, thereby disconnecting the trigger from the firing pin mechanismso as to be freely displaceable, and is received by one of a pluralityof slots extending along a safety guide tube to thereby index the shaftso that the firing pin mechanism is safely uncocked and is securedagainst actuation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and the accompanying drawings which are forthe purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational side view ofthe launcher showing the clip in the extended position and with thelauncher case partially broken away to illustrate certain features ofthe launcher and particularly the relationship of the trigger mechanismand the safety guide tube;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the cliptelescoped into the launcher case;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal view of the trigger mechanism and thesafety guide tube which is partially broken away and cross-sectioned;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the firing pin and triggermechanisms and the safety guide tube;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the rocket clip; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the manifold, partly broken away andsectioned to show an igniter and flash tube train for firing one of therockets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown in the drawing is amultishot rocket launcher 12 adapted for firing four rocket assemblies13 semiautomatically from a clip 14 which is replaceably mounted to thelauncher as hereinafter described. Clip 14 secures together a cluster 16of four rocket assemblies 13 adjacent to their respective bases and intwo-by-two arrangement, by a star-shaped manifold 18.

Launcher 12 comprises a case 20 with four symmetrically arranged andlongitudinally disposed firing tubes 22 each of which slidingly receivesone of the rocket assemblies 13 of the cluster 16 when loaded to thelauncher and which initially guides the rocket portion of each assemblyin its flight after being ignited in the clip. A central hole 24 ofcruciform configuration is formed between tubes 22, as shown in FIG. 5,and such hole receives manifold 18 when clip 14 is loaded into launcher12 as hereinafter described.

A shaft 25 is axially located in hole 24 for rotation and for limitedlongitudinal displacement between a forward telescoped position and arearward extended position. Formed around shaft 25 adjacent to the rearend thereof is an annular groove 26 which is releasably engageable by aretainer 27 on manifold 18 to thereby secure clip 14 to shaft 25 forlongitudinal displacement therewith between the telescoped position,shown in FIG. 2, and the extended position, shown in FIG. 1 whilepermitting relative rotating movement. A handle 15 is provided onmanifold 18 to facilitate loading as well as movement between theextended and telescoped positions.

Located on shaft 25 forwardly of groove 26 is a firing pin mechanism 28,such as is fully disclosed in the U. S. Patent of Frederick P. Reedentitled Firing Mechanism for a Multishot Launcher, US. Pat. No.3,641,868. Firing pin mechanism 28 includes a housing 30 which isattached to manifold 18 and which is essentially cylindrical with fourarcuate channels 32, having approximately the same radius as the insideof the firing tubes 22, longitudinally formed along the outside of thehousing in symmetrical arrangement, as shown in FIGS. and 6. Thus,housing 30 has a cross-sectional configuration similar to that of hole24 so that the housing is slidingly received thereby when moved withshaft 25 to the telescoped position. When shaft 25 is in its extendedposition, housing 30 is located outside case 20, and is secured inalignment therewith by manifold 18 as each of the rocket clusters 16thereof is received by both one of the firing tubes 22 and one of thechannels 32.

Located in housing 30 between each pair of the channels 32, as shown inFIG. 5, is a firing pin 34 for igniting the associated one of therockets in the assembly 13. Each firing pin 34 is retracted against thebias of a cooperating spring 36 by a rotary cam 38 which is fixed toshaft 25 and which includes a helical surface 40 that is successivelycontactable with a follower 41' which extends from each of the firingpins to effect consecutive retraction thereof responsive to 90 rotationof the shaft. Helical surface 40 is sharply terminated, as shown in FIG.6, by surface 42 which extends radially from shaft 25 to form a peak 43so that when the shaft is rotated 90 the firing pin 34 is retracted bycontact of the helical surface with follower 41 and then is released toimpact by bias of the respective spring 36 against the igniter 79 of therelated rocket, for ignition thereof, when peak 43 is moved past suchfollower. Manifold 18 is provided with four cavities 81 for receivingigniters 79 which are oriented in alignment with respective ones of thefiring pins 34. Each one of the rockets 13 is provided at its rearwardend with a flash tube 80 the free end of which is inserted into aradially disposed aperture 82 to an extent to contact with itsrespective igniter, as shown particularly in FIG. 8.

Shaft 25 is rotated 90 at a time for cyclic activation of one of thefiring pins 34 by a trigger mechanism 44 which includes a trigger 46pivotally mounted on case 20 and a lanyard 48. Lanyard 48 comprises acable section 50 wound at one end to a drum 51, thereby convertingpivotal movement of trigger 46 in the one plane to rotational movementin a plane 90 to the trigger plane, and the drum is journaled forrotation on a ratchet sleeve 52 which, in turn, is journaled forrotation on shaft 25. Four recesses 54 are formed 90 apart aroundratchet sleeve 52 and each of the recesses is provided with alongitudinal surface 56 which is contactable by a pawl 58 pivotallymounted to a drum 51, for transmitting rotational pull by trigger 46 toratchet sleeve 52. Located in a housing 53, as shown in FIG. 4, is anannular coiled spring 60 which is compressed by pin 55 in drum 51 whenthe drum is rotated by pull on trigger 46 and which applies the storedenergy back to the drum for counter-rotation thereof to its initialposition when pressure on the trigger is released.

Rotation of ratchet sleeve 52 is transferred to shaft 25 by theengagement of a pair of cylindrical keys 62, extending diametricallyfrom the shaft, with a pair of the eight triangular notches 64 thatextend rearwardly into the ratchet sleeve from the front end thereof.Each of notches 64 is terminated by a niche 66 whichreceives one of thekeys 62 with a minimum of clearance and each notch comprises alongitudinal side 68 that forms one side of the niche and a helical side70 that leads to the other side thereof from the next one of thenotches. Thus, when keys 62 contact a pair of the heli-' cal sides 70and are pressed thereagainst they are guided thereby into the relatedones of the niches 66 to connect ratchet sleeve 52 to shaft 25 fortransmitting positive rotation of the ratchet sleeve thereto. Firing pinmechanism 28 in housing 30 is indexed in an uncocked position and isready to fire when trigger 46 is released to its normal position anddrum 51 is located by spring 60 in its initial position; pawl 58 islocated in contact with surface 56 of one of the recesses 54; one of thepin followers 41 is in contact with surface '42 of rotary cam 38; andthe firing pin mechanism is pulled to the extended position so that keys62 are located in a pair of niches 66.

Firing mechanism 28 is secured in the uncocked position so as to be in asafe condition by a safety indexing device comprising a safety guidetube 71, which is located in hole 24 forwardly of ratchet sleeve 52 andis secured against displacement relative to case 20. Tube 71 is axiallyaligned with shaft 25, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the front portion ofthe shaft is receivable therewithin during displacement to thetelescoped position. Four slots 72, spaced apart, extend longitudinallyin tube 71 from the rear end thereof to form two pair combinations eachpair receiving the keys 62 when shaft 25 is actuated to the telescopedposition. Thus, rotation of the shaft is blocked to secure firing pinmechanism 28 against actuation. Each of the pairs of slots 72 isassociated with a firing pin 34 and the slots are located so that whenkeys 62 are received by one of the four pair combinations rotary cam 38is indexed to where follower 41 of the associated firing pin is locatedpast peak 43 and is in contact with surface 42. To assure reception ofkeys 62 by slots 72 and to index rotary cam 38 in the uncocked position,the rear end of each of the slots is enlarged by a triangular clearance74 which is formed by the extension of one side of the slot and ahelical edge 76 leading from the rear end of tube 71 to the other sideof the slot for guiding the keys thereinto. The rear end of tube 71 isspaced from the front end of ratchet sleeve 52 a distance which is lessthan the diameter of keys 62 so that they cannot be caught therebetweenduring displacement of shaft 25.

OPERATION When launcher 12 is loaded with a clip 14 and is to be carriedin a safe condition, the clip with firing pin mechanism 28 is telescopedinto case 20, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby shaft 25 is displacedforwardly to locate keys 62 in one pair of the slots 72. Thus, rotarypins are cocked. Firing pin mechanism 28 is also blocked againstrotation from the indexed position to prevent action of the rotary cam38 against follower 41 of any of the firing pins 34. However, drum 51 isfree to.rotate when trigger 46 is :pulled as ratchet sleeve 52 isdisconnected from shaft 25.

Launcher 12 is readied for firing by pulling handle 15 rearwardly whichpulls shaft 25 to the extended position. As shaft 25 is moved to theextended position, keys 62 move along slots 72 and enter the pair ofnotches64 which are in alignment therewith. Any mis alignment iscorrected by contact of keys 62 with helical, sides 70 which direct thekeys into niches 66, as shown in FIG. 3.:With keys 62 located withinniches 6, trigger mechanism 44 is connected to firing pin mechanism 28with one of the followers 41 located in contact with surface 42 ofrotary cam 38. When trigger 46 is pulled, drum 51 is rotated and therotation thereof is transmitted to ratchet sleeve 52 and therefrom toshaft 25 through the engagement of keys 62 with niches 66. Thus, cam 38is moved against pin follower 41 of one of the four firing pins 34 viasurface 42 for retraction and release thereof against the igniter of therelated rocket 13. in response to firing the igniter, the free end i ofthe respective flash tube 80 is ignited, which then sends a flash to therocket 13 with which it is connected thereby firing the rocket forpropulsion from the launcher.

I wish it to be understood that] do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. lln a firearm having a case, a shaft journaled in said case forrotary and longitudinal displacement relative thereto, a firing pinmechanism mounted to said shaft for longitudinal displacement therewithbetween an extended position and a telescoped position relative to thesaid case, and a trigger mechanism including a trigger pivotally mountedto said case and a first means for converting pivotal displacement ofsaid trigger to rotation of said shaft for actuating said firing pinmechanism,; the improvement comprising the addition of safety indexingmeans slidably disposed on said shaft and arranged to disconnect saidfirst means from said firing. pin mechanism, and means to secure saidfiring pin mechanism against rotation, both said safety indexing meansand said securing means being responsive to longitudinal displacementofsaid firing pin mechanism to said telescoped position within said case.

2.1The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includesa ratchet sleeve journaled for rotation on said shaft, a drum journaledfor rotation on said ratchet sleeve, a lanyard connecting said triggerto said drumfor converting pivotal displacement of said triggertorotation thereof, pawl means for transmitting rotation of said drum inone direction to said ratchet sleeve, at least one key extendingradially from said shaft, said ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality ofnotches extending thereinto from one end thereof, each of said notchesbeing adapted for receiving said key responsive to disposition of saidshaft in the extended position for transmitting rotation of said ratchetsleeve to said shaft, and wherein said safety indexing means comprises asafety guide tube secured within said case against displacement relativethereto, and said safety guide tube being provided with a plurality ofslots extending therealong from one end thereof, each of said slotsbeing disposed for receiving said key in response to said shaft beingdisposed in the telescoped position to index said shaft sosthat saidfiring pin mechanism is safely uncocked and to secure said shaft againstactuation after being so indexed.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said safety guide tube islocated in said case in axial alignment with said ratchet sleeve tothereby receive said tube therein in response to said firing pinmechanism being disposed in the telescoped position, and wherein saidslotted end of said safety guide tube is disposed adjacent the notchedend of said ratchet sleeve and is spaced therefrom a distance which isless than the cross-sectional dimension of .said key to thereby prevententrance thereof between said ratchet and said safety guide tube duringdisplacement of said shaft between the extended and telescopedpositions.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said notchesterminates in a niche disposed for receiving said key with a minimum ofclearance and in cluding a helical side for directing said key into saidniche when pressed thereagainst.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said firing pin mechanismcomprises a plurality of spring bi ased firing pins and said safetyguide tube slots are equal to the number of said firing pins and areeach related to one thereof, and wherein each of said slots in cludes atriangular clearance having a helical edge for directing said key intothe associated one of said slots responsive to said shaft beingdisplaced to the telescoped position thereby indexing said shaft so thatsaid firing pin mechanism is safely uncocked.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said firing pin mechanismincludes a rotary cam fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, saidrotary cam comprising a helical surface successively contactable with afollower on each of said firing pins for retraction thereof, and saidhelical surface terminating in a radial surface at a peak to therebyrelease said firing pins successively responsive to rotation of saidshaft, and wherein each of said slots is disposed so that when said keyis located therein said follower on the associated one of said firingpins is located past said peak of said rotary cam and in contact withsaid surface thereof.

1. In a firearm having a case, a shaft journaled in said case for rotaryand longitudinal displacement relative thereto, a firing pin mechanismmounted to said shaft for longitudinal displacement therewith between anextended position and a telescoped position relative to the said case,and a trigger mechanism including a trigger pivotally mounted to saidcase and a first means for converting pivotal displacement of saidtrigger to rotation of said shaft for actuating said firing pinmechanism, the improvement comprising the addition of safety indexingmeans slidably disposed on said shaft and arranged to disconnect saidfirst means from said firing pin mechanism, and means to secure saidfiring pin mechanism against rotation, both said safety indexing meansand said securing means being responsive to longitudinal displacement ofsaid firing pin mechanism to said telescoped position within said case.2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includesa ratchet sleeve journaled for rotation on said shaft, a drum journaledfor rotation on said ratchet sleeve, a lanyard connecting said triggerto said drum for converting pivotal displacement of said trigger torotation thereof, pawl means for transmitting rotation of said drum inone direction to said ratchet sleeve, at least one key extendingradially from said shaft, said ratchet sleeve comprising a plurality ofnotches extending thereinto from one end thereof, each of said notchesbeing adapted for receiving said key responsive to disposition of saidshaft in the extended position for transmitting rotation of said ratchetsleeve to said shaft, and wherein said safety indexing means comprises asafety guide tube secured within said case against displacement relativethereto, and said safety guide tube being provided with a plurality ofslots extending therealong from one end thereof, each of said slotsbeing disposed for receiving said key in response to said shaft beingdisposed in the telescoped position to index said shaft so that saidfiring pin mechanism is safely uncocked and to secure said shaft againstactuation after being so indexed.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2wherein said safety guide tube is located in said case in axialalignment with said ratchet sleeve to thereby receive said tube thereinin response to said firing pin mechanism being disposed in thetelescoped position, and wherein said slotted end of said safety guidetube is disposed adjacent the notched end of said ratchet sleeve and isspaced therefrom a distance which is less than the cross-sectionaldimension of said key to thereby prevent entrance thereof between saidratchet and said safety guide tube during displacement of said shaftbetween the extended and telescoped positions.
 4. The invention asdefined in claim 3 wherein each of said notches terminates in a nichedisposed for receiving said key with a minimum of clearance andincluding a helical side for directing said key into said niche whenpressed thereagainst.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid firing pin mechanism comprises a plurality of spring biased firingpins and said safety guide tube slots are equal to the number of saidfiring pins and are each related to one thereof, and wherein each ofsaid slots includes a triangular clearance having a helical edge fordirecting said key into the associated one of said slots responsive tosaid shaft being displAced to the telescoped position thereby indexingsaid shaft so that said firing pin mechanism is safely uncocked.
 6. Theinvention as defined in claim 5 wherein said firing pin mechanismincludes a rotary cam fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, saidrotary cam comprising a helical surface successively contactable with afollower on each of said firing pins for retraction thereof, and saidhelical surface terminating in a radial surface at a peak to therebyrelease said firing pins successively responsive to rotation of saidshaft, and wherein each of said slots is disposed so that when said keyis located therein said follower on the associated one of said firingpins is located past said peak of said rotary cam and in contact withsaid surface thereof.